On Saturday, UFC fighters took part in a ceremonial weigh-in ahead of the unprecedented fight card at the White House.
Having completed their official weigh-in in front of media in the morning, the athletes took to the stage again in front of thousands of fans at the Ellipse, where 85,000 viewers will watch the fights on big screens on Sunday – having been given free tickets to the park.
All 14 fighters from the seven scheduled fights successfully made weight, with Joe Rogan hosting the ceremonial weigh-in and admitting he “screwed up” when he announced the wrong athlete. Canadian fighter Aiemann Zahabi and France’s Ciryl Gane were subjected to boos, and Spanish-Georgian Ilia Topuria received some as well.
However, it was controversial heavyweight Josh Hokit who stole the show at the morning weigh-in, where he pretended to be sick. “So what? I was drinking,” said the American, who will face Donald Trump’s favourite fighter Derrick Lewis on the South Lawn.
Re-live the ceremonial weigh-in, below.
Read MoreUFC Freedom 250: Start time, card and how to watch White House fights this weekend
Judge rejects bid to block Trump’s UFC fight at White House
Meet Ilia Topuria, the stone-cold fighter headlining the UFC’s remarkable White House event
UFC Freedom 250 weigh-in live
- UFC fighters take part in ceremonial weigh-in for Sunday's remarkable White House event | 1.30am BST
- After morning's official weigh-in, fighters will tip scales in front of fans at Ellipse park
- Event precedes Sunday's seven fights on the South Lawn, as celebration of 250 years of United States
- Joe Rogan hosts weigh-in despite questioning decision to stage fights outdoors
- Ellipse crowd boos Aeimann Zahabi, the only Canadian fighter on White House fight card
- Josh Hokit seemingly pretended to be sick at morning's weigh-in: 'So what? I was drinking'
- Diego Lopes weighs in twice, so he can serve as back-up fighter for Topuria vs Gaethje main event
- Alex Pereira heavier than Ciryl Gane in most-shocking result from official weigh-in
UFC White House weigh-in in photos
02:23 , Alex PattleJoe Rogan hosted and admitted he “screwed up” when he introduced the wrong fighter.
Concert to ensue, as Zac Brown Band takes to stage
02:16 , Alex PattleThis evening’s festivities are not over yet: a concert from the Zac Brown Band will soon take place at the Ellipse.
Gaethje and Topuria send final messages before main event tomorrow
02:12 , Alex PattleGaethje: “I was absolutely made for this s*** right here, I am blessed to be in this position that I am, and I will take his 0 from him tomorrow. You watch.”
Topuria: “Joe, since I was a kid, I always heard this word called the ‘American dream’. I never really understood the meaning of that word. But tomorrow we’re gonna live the American dream. I’m gonna get 18-0 and in [emphatic] fashion.”
Justin Gaethje and Ilia Topuria round out weigh-in
02:10 , Alex PattleHere comes the interim lightweight champion Gaethje, who is aiming to win the undisputed belt at the third time of asking.
The American made weight at 155lb, as did Spanish-Georgian Topuria.
Mixed reception for undisputed champ Topuria, quite a few boos in there as he strides out looking as confident as always.
He told me today that he’s so relaxed because “in my mind, I’ve already lived” the White House fight.
Meet Ilia Topuria, the stone-cold fighter headlining the UFC’s White House event
France's Ciryl Gane also booed but Pereira cheered loudly
02:05 , Alex PattleCiryl Gane is out next, also to a chorus of boos. The Frenchman will star in tomorrow’s co-main event, as he fights Alex Pereira for the interim heavyweight title. 248lb is Gane’s weight.
Now here comes Pereira, who surprisingly weighed in at 261lb for his heavyweight debut.
Cheers galore for the Brazilian, to be fair, the only positive reception for a foreign fighter tonight.
“Thank you, UFC, I’m really glad, really happy to fight at the White House and against Alex Pereira,” says Gane. “Fresh blood [at heavyweight], this is a great champion.”
Indeed, Pereira is a former two-weight champion (middleweight x1, light-heavyweight x2).
LOUD cheers for him, one day before he tries to become the UFC’s first three-weight champion.
“I feel great, I wanna thank everyone who came out tonight, it’s a special day and tomorrow’s gonna be a great fight,” says Pereira.
'Sugar' Sean O'Malley and Aiemann Zahabi out next
01:57 , Alex PattleNext on stage are Sean O’Malley (135.5lb) and Aiemann Zahabi (135lb).
Former bantamweight champion “Sugar Sean” has admitted he is long overdue a trademark KO, claiming he MUST get one tomorrow.
Zahabi is out first to a chorus of boos, as the only Canadian fighter on tomorrow’s card.
There’s a great reaction for O’Malley, though, who is sporting pink and blue dyed hair.
Josh Hokit gets mixed reception before mouthy face-off
01:54 , Alex PattleHokit weighed in at 231lb, meaning he’s much lighter than Lewis, but he’s going to try to rely on a speed advantage.
Hokit gets a mixed reaction; his WWE-style persona aggravates a lot of people.
Hokit vs Lewis was added to tomorrow’s card in April, after Trump watched from ringside as Hokit won an instant classic over Curtis Blaydes in Miami.
By the end of that night, Hokit vs Lewis was made.
The pair jibe at each other now.
UFC White House fighter throws up at weigh-in: ‘So what? I was drinking’
Trump's favourite fighter Derrick Lewis opens up on time in prison
01:50 , Alex PattleA video package shows Derrick Lewis, the favourite fighter of President Trump, opening up on his time in prison.
Lewis faces the controversial Josh Hokit tomorrow, after Hokit pretended to be sick at this morning’s press conference.
Lots of cheers for the 41-year-old Lewis, who throws his trousers into the crowd and takes to the stage in his underwear.
Lewis tipped the scales at 265lb this morning.
Michael Chandler gets great reception
01:47 , Alex PattleThere’s a big, positive reception for the all-action Michael Chandler – America’s own.
Chandler spent two years waiting on a fight with Conor McGregor, only for the Irishman to suffer a broken toe two weeks before their planned 2024 bout.
Chandler went on to fight Charles Oliveira instead, losing a one-sided fight. He was then stopped by Paddy Pimblett in 2025 and hasn’t fought since.
155lb for his opponent, Brazil’s Mauricio Ruffy, while Chandler himself is 156lb.
Joe Rogan admits 'I screwed up' as Kyle Daukaus and Bo Nickal emerge
01:41 , Alex PattleThe second bout tomorrow will pit Kyle Daukaus against Bo Nickal in an all-American clash.
The middleweights take to the stage now.
Rogan admits, “I screwed up,” after introducing Nickal first – only for Daukaus to come out.
Nickal and Daukaus both made weight at 186lb this morning.
Steve Garcia and Diego Lopes out first
01:37 , Alex PattleThe first fight of the night tomorrow could be the best.
It’s a featherweight tilt between Garcia and Lopes, both of whom weighed in at 146lb.
Garcia emerges to a mixed reaction, despite being one of the American fighters on the card... Odd.
Now here comes Lopes, who is Brazilian and receives a fairly underwhelming reaction.
Joe Rogan hosts weigh-in despite questioning fights
01:35 , Alex PattleJoe Rogan, UFC commentator-turned-podcaster, is the master of ceremonies.
He introduces UFC chief Dana White and some of the other UFC execs. A few ring girls are introduced, too.
Rogan was actually critical of this event, in terms of the fights taking place outdoors this weekend.
Eagle soars down to delight of crowd
01:33 , Alex PattleLincoln, an American bald eagle, swoops down over the crowd and lands on the arm of a handler on the stage.
The crowd absolutely loves this.
US Army parachute team glides down
01:30 , Alex PattleThe Golden Knights parachute over the Ellipse, as the ceremonial weigh-in edges ever nearer.
That’s the US Army parachute team, to be clear – not the Las Vegas ice-hockey team.
Ex-UFC champ leads Ellipse crowd in 'USA' chant
01:26 , Alex PattleThe panel for the weigh-in show is hosted by Brendan Fitzgerald, and it features three former UFC champions: Dominick Cruz and Chris Weidman (both American), and Britain’s Michael Bisping (who lives in the US).
Weidman leads the crowd in a “USA” chant. Thousands have gathered in the Ellipse to see the ceremonial weigh-in.
Ceremonial weigh-in moments away
01:22 , Alex PattleDon’t go anywhere, as the ceremonial weigh-in will begin in just a few minutes!
It will take place at the Ellipse, where 85,000 fans will watch tomorrow’s fights on big screens (having been given free tickets).
24 hours from UFC Freedom 250
01:14 , Alex PattleHow is this actually real? How is this event taking place tomorrow...
Why was Diego Lopes chosen as main-event back-up fighter?
01:07 , Alex PattleBecause the UFC loves him? Ha, no – there’s more to it than that.
Yes, UFC fans expressed frustration when Lopes was handed two featherweight title shots in one year (he lost both of them on points to Alexander Volkanovski), with many deeming him unworthy of his second chance.
But what’s the logic in picking him for as the back-up fighter for Sunday’s main event? After all, there’s another lightweight fight on Sunday, so the UFC could choose Michael Chandler or Mauricio Ruffy.
But the company likely doesn’t want to sacrifice Chandler vs Ruffy. They’d probably rather lose Lopes vs Garcia, if it comes to it.
That said, those two bouts are both corkers on paper; either could be fight of the night.
Diego Lopes to be back-up fighter for main event!
Sunday 14 June 2026 00:59 , Alex PattleDiego Lopes, after successfully weighing in for his featherweight bout with Steve Garcia (both men 146lb), weighed in AGAIN at 154lb.
That was so that he can be the back-up fighter for the main event, the lightweight-title fight between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje.
If you’re new to the sport and that’s slightly confusing to you: MMA fighters tend to bulk up significantly between their weigh-in and their fight, so after making 146lb, Lopes was always likely to add size anyway.
(In boxing, athletes tend to fight closer to their natural weight, so they don’t add as much size between the weigh-in and the contest itself.)
Alex Pereira shockingly bigger than Ciryl Gane
Sunday 14 June 2026 00:52 , Alex PattleSo, the most interesting weigh-in result saw Alex Pereira tip the scales heavier than Ciryl Gane.
Pereira, a former middleweight and two-time light-heavyweight champion, is making his heavyweight debut on Sunday.
Yet it was the Brazilian, 38, who was heavier than Gane, who is a former interim heavyweight champion (and a mainstay of this division).
France’s Gane, 36, weighed in at 248lb, but Pereira was 3lb heavier.
Does that bode well for Pereira’s trademark KO power? A big question ahead of Sunday’s fights has been whether that power will carry up to this new weight...
Full results from morning weigh-in
Sunday 14 June 2026 00:44 , Alex PattleOkay, so the ceremonial weigh-in this evening is the fun one, but the one that mattered most was the morning edition.
Here’s how each fighter tipped the scales – thankfully, but predictably, without any missing weight for this seismic fight card:
Ilia Topuria (155lb) vs Justin Gaethje (155lb) – lightweight title
Alex Pereira (251) vs Ciryl Gane (248) – interim heavyweight title
Sean O’Malley (135.5lb) vs Aiemann Zahabi (135lb) – bantamweight
Josh Hokit (231) vs Derrick Lewis (265) – heavyweight
Mauricio Ruffy (155) vs Michael Chandler (156) – lightweight
Bo Nickal (186) vs Kyle Daukaus (186) – middleweight
Diego Lopes (146) vs Steve Garcia (146) – featherweight
Josh Hokit throws up at morning weigh-in: 'So what? I was drinking'
Sunday 14 June 2026 00:36 , Alex PattleThe story of the day: this morning, as the fighters weighed in before a crowd of media personnel, Hokit seemingly pretended to throw up, as he dribbled a sick-coloured liquid from his mouth.
“So what? Maybe I was drinking last night,” Hokit told those in the room. “Who wouldn’t be?
“I’ve got a giant man who wants to knock me out. He has the most knockouts in UFC history,” the American heavyweight added, referencing his opponent Derrick Lewis.
Hokit, 28, also appeared to be on unsteady legs as he walked into the room, took to the scale, and exited. However, this also seemed to be part of his act.
Hokit has made a name for himself in recent months by playing different characters. At Friday’s press conference, he continually referenced “The Incredible Hoke”, while he spoke nervously about all of the fighters at the event.
More here:
UFC White House fighter throws up at weigh-in: ‘So what? I was drinking’
T-minus one hour to kick-off
Sunday 14 June 2026 00:28 , Alex PattleWe’re one hour away from tonight’s ceremonial weigh-in!
Federal judge blocks attempt to prevent UFC White House fights
Sunday 14 June 2026 00:17 , Alex WoodwardA federal judge rejected a request for an injunction to block the Trump administration from holding Sunday's fight event.
The lawsuit was filed by the Public Integrity Project on behalf of two civic activists, who accused the administration of a "deeply corrupt" scheme to benefit the president's allies.
Judge Amit Mehta ruled that the plaintiffs did not prove they would face "irreparable harm" or be "directly affected" by the event, which they do not plan to attend.
The judge stated that the for-profit elements of UFC Freedom 250 and the lack of congressional approval or environmental review were not new information.
He also stressed that the stage and all other materials would be removed immediately after the fights conclude.
Will UFC White House fights be delayed by weather issues?
Sunday 14 June 2026 00:09 , Alex PattleLast night’s press conference was delayed by around 30 minutes due to a storm, but Dana White said of Sunday’s fights:
“Listen, the show goes on on Sunday, no matter what happens. We’re going. I don’t care if it rains, snows.
“I’m sick and tired of hearing about all the weather now, and all the other bulls*** surrounding this event.
“WE ARE FIGHTING ON SUNDAY NIGHT ON THE WHITE HOUSE LAWN, no matter what!”
Is the UFC White House card good enough? Grading all fights
Sunday 14 June 2026 00:01 , Alex PattleHere, I grade every fight on Sunday’s card – as well as giving the event an overall rating.
Was I harsh or fair?
Is the UFC’s White House card good enough? Grading every fight
UFC Freedom 250 start time, how to watch, and more
Saturday 13 June 2026 23:50 , Alex PattleEverything you might want to know about UFC Freedom 250 is in this article, so check it out:
UFC Freedom 250: Start time, card and how to watch White House fights this weekend
How Secret Service will protect Trump during ‘Rating 1’ threat level at UFC White House
Saturday 13 June 2026 23:42 , Alex PattleRooftop sharpshooters, trained dogs, explosives experts, metal detectors and high-tech surveillance cameras are among the security measures the Secret Service will use to protect President Donald Trump during the controversial cage fights he's hosting at the White House this weekend.
Former Secret Service agents told The Independent they were confident that Trump — who's been the target of three assassination attempts — would be sufficiently shielded as he celebrates his 80th birthday at the UFC "Freedom 250" event.
Feature by Bruce Golding:
The Secret Service plan for ‘Rating 1’ threat level at Trump’s UFC event
Don’t be fooled by UFC White House glitz – not all is well in Dana White’s world
Saturday 13 June 2026 23:05 , Alex PattleWhen UFC Freedom 250 plays out, with few actual fans ringside but 85,000 watching on big screens in the nearby Ellipse park, it will be glitz and glamour galore.
Mr Trump’s close friend Dana White, the UFC’s president and CEO, has said that TV-production awards should be abolished altogether if this event wins none.
It’s hyperbole, of course, to which White is more than prone, but it’s also curious because of how starkly it stands in contrast to the UFC’s weekly product.
Over the last couple of years, the UFC has come under increasing criticism for its output. A peak has passed, it feels.
Full comment:
Don’t be fooled by the UFC White House glitz – all is not well in Dana White’s world
Trump loves crashing sports events – thanks to the UFC, he’s got his own with a twist
Saturday 13 June 2026 22:56 , Alex PattleAfter a chorus of boos at the NBA finale, Trump now has form for disruptive big-game appearances, with similar moments at the Ryder Cup and US Open last year.
But, as I wrote below, the President can now watch his friend Dana White’s event from his own back garden, far from detractors.
Full comment:
Trump loves crashing sports events – thanks to the UFC, he’s got his own with a twist
Exclusive interview: Meet the stone-cold UFC White House headliner
Saturday 13 June 2026 22:46 , Alex PattleIlia Topuria’s opponent, Justin Gaethje, stood with his mouth slightly agape as he looked up, down, side to side, and all around him. It’s understandable that the American fighter was overawed; here he was, standing at the Lincoln Memorial, about to wage a war of words with Topuria before waging a war in the cage on Sunday – on the White House’s South Lawn.
So how comes Topuria, when he emerged moments later, was wearing a smirk?
There is an eerie coldness to Topuria at times. In our previous interview, in 2023, he asked me: “Do you know how good I am? I can submit my opponent, I can knock him out. I can do with him whatever I want.”
These were rhetorical questions, but I couldn’t help feeling somewhat interrogated, as if the German-born Spanish-Georgian thought I did not truly appreciate his skills. In that moment, “El Matador” seemed more bull than man.
On Saturday, he spoke to The Independent again – and explained why he’s so “relaxed” about headlining at the White House:
Meet Ilia Topuria, the stone-cold fighter headlining the UFC’s White House event
Hokit steals show with 'sick' stunt after dominating Friday press conference
Saturday 13 June 2026 22:37 , Alex PattleHokit pretending to be sick today meant it was his second time stealing the show this week – for better or... actually no, just for worse.
At last night’s press conference, Hokit played a nervous character (not for the first time) and chimed in at every opportunity.
After a series of faux-sheepish comments, though, he made a remark on Topuria’s recent divorce, leading UFC president Dana White to end the press conference at once.
UFC Freedom 250 press conference LIVE: Dana White ends event after divorce insult
Other results as expected – surely no one was going to miss weight
Saturday 13 June 2026 22:28 , Alex PattleEveryone else made weight, which you’d expect ahead of an event of this unprecedented magnitude.
Imagine missing weight for your fight AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
If you’re new to mixed martial arts / the UFC specifically, here’s the weights explained:
On Sunday, we’ll have fights at heavyweight, middleweight, lightweight, featherweight, and bantamweight.
The usual limit for heavyweight is 266lb, at middleweight it’s 186lb, lightweights can go up to 156lb, featherweights 146lb, and bantamweights 136lb.
However, it’s 1lb less in the case of title fights. So, Topuria vs Gaethje has a 155lb limit, and Pereira vs Gane has a 265lb limit.
UFC Freedom 250 weigh-in LIVE: Welcome!
Saturday 13 June 2026 22:00 , Alex PattleTonight, UFC fighters will take part in a ceremonial weigh-in ahead of Sunday’s unprecedented fight card at the White House. Having completed their official weigh-in in front of media on Saturday morning, the athletes will take to the stage again in front of fans, for one final face-off with their opponents.
The ceremonial weigh-in will take place at the Ellipse, a park near the White House, whose South Lawn will host seven fights on Sunday – including a main-event lightweight-title bout between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje, and a co-main event between Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight belt.
However, it was controversial heavyweight Josh Hokit who stole the show at Friday’s press conference, and he did the same by seemingly pretending to be sick at Friday’s official weigh-in.
The American, who has made a name for himself in recent months by playing different characters, dribbled a sick-coloured liquid from his mouth at the morning weigh-in as he expressed his apprehension over fighting Derrick Lewis, the favourite fighter of US President Donald Trump.
Follow live updates from the ceremonial weigh-in, right here.
